Composition and the production thereof



Patented Mar. 14, 1933 :en'rm' O. CHRISTENSEN, EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEYconosrrron am) can raonocrion' rmnor Io Drawing. Beflled for" abandonedapplication Serial 1T0. 155,560, 11 December application filed July 12,1988. Serial No. 628,109.

This application is directed to the same subject matter as m ap licationSerial No. 155,560, filed Decem er 1 1926, and entitled Compositions andthe production thereof,

which a plication Serial No. 155,560 was allowed arch '10, 1930 but hasbecome aban doned.

My invention relates to a new composition which is especially adaptedfor use in certain -1 forms thereof as coating materials in the natureof varnishes, liquid shellacs, lacguers, sizings and oil paints, and asliquid lling and impregnating, materials, and which may alsoadvantageously be used as a thermo- 15 plastic molding material or asthe main ingredient or base of the latter. My invention also relates tothe methods for preparing the composition andthe coatin and other materials for which the same 1s designed to t used. The principal objectof my invention is to provide a composition of this character which whenproduced in the various forms suitable for use in place ofvarnisheskshellacs, lacquers and the other materialsmentioned above, is

not only generally cheaper than those forms of these materials nowcommonly employed, but in most cases, as to certain characteristicsthereof, is also superior to such materials. 3o Further objects andfeatures of my invention will be hereinafter more fully described andclaimed. a

The basis of my invention is the thorou h and intimate commingling,preferably y as bringing them together in solution, of certain leatherconstituents, and particularly the protein constituents, and ordinaryshellac in various proportions, preferably varying from about 25% to 75%by weight of the 40 leather constituents and thee ulvalent of from about7 5%to' 25% by weig t of shellac when in the dry powdered or flake form,largely depending on the articular use to which the ultimate roduct isto be put. The protein leat er constituents used in preparin m newcomposition are preferably obt ined in the form of a gum, which ma aptlybe termed leather gum, as fol ows:

'fLeather, and'preferabl scra leather, because of its cheapness, is rstsu jected, preferably at room temperature, to a solution of a suitablematerial which will act to remove from the leather the oils, fats,glucose, glycerine and similar substances. solution of ,5; any of anumber of materials, and notably of sulphuric, nitric or hydrochloricacid, may

'be used to advantage, but in general I find that best results v1 areobtained, especially where the ultimate product is to be used as on oilpaint, liquid shellac, varnish or lacquer by sub'ecting the leather to asolution 0 hydroc loric acid. While good results are derived by usinganywhere from a fraction of one per cent up toa ten per cent acidsolution, it is noted that as a general rule the weaker the solutionemployed the better the results obtained, and I preferably employ fromabout a one-half of one per cent to a two per cent solution ofhydrochloric acid. I

The leather is subjected to the action of the acid solution for a periodof from about'six to twenty-four hours, depending mainly on the strengthof thesolution employed and the thickness of the leatherpieces beingtreated.

preferably leather gum produced as just described, and ordinary shellacare thorougha0 preferable to employ alcohol in the solvent,

good results are obtained when this ingredient is omitted. The leathergum and shellac may both be dissolved at the same time in the solventconsisting of a mixture s'uch as described. I prefer, however, todissolve the shellac in a suitable weak alkaline water solution,preferably a solution of ammonium hydroxide, although other alkalinewater solutions such as those of borax, potash, soda and sodiumphosphate ma be used, and to dissolve the leather gum in a mixture ofeither alcohol or water, and Pyranton, but preferably in a mixture ofalcohol and Pyranton, and to then combine and thoroughly mix togetherthe resulting solutions of shellac and leather gum.

For most purposes for which my composition is designed, I find that thebest or at least very good results are obtained by embodying thereinsubstantially equal proportions of the leather gum and shellac, and itis this form of the composition and the preferred method of producingthe same which I shall proceed to specifically describe. Ordinary drypowdered or flake shellac is dissolved in a water solution of ammoniumhydroxide substantially in the proportions of 100 parts by weight ofshellac, and 775 parts by weight of the solution containing parts byweight of ammonium hydroxide. The strength of this alkaline solution is,however, subject to great variation. The solution is preferably heatedto a tepid or luke-warm condition as this materially increases the speedat which the shellac dissolves therein. An amount of leather gumsubstantially equal to that of the shellac dissolved in thealkalinesolution, is separately dissolved in a mixture of alcohol and Pyrantonsubstantially in the proportions of 100 parts by weight of leather gum,150 parts by weight of'alcohol and 25 parts by weight of Pyranton. It isalso to be understood that these proportions may be greatly varied. Thismixture is preferably heated to a temperature of 150 F. to 200 F.

as the speed at which the leather gum dissolves therein is therebyconsiderably increased. The solutions of shellac and leather gumobtained as just described, are now combined and thoroughly mixed atordinary The result is a thick heavy brownish liquid, which productconstiroom temperature.

t'utes my new and improved composition in the form of a base or stockfor coating, filling, impregnating and molding materials of the natureindicated above.

To reduce the composition produced, as described above, in' the form ofa base or stock material, to the desired consistency for use as acoating, impregnating or filling material, it is merely necessary to addthereto the proper amount of a suitable thinning solvent such, forexample, as a water solution of ammonia.

To prevent the throwing down of the leather gum and consequently thecoagulation or jellying of the composition, I preferably mix therewith asmall amount of urea,

preferably about one part by weight of urea to 50 parts by weight of thecomposition when the latter is in the form of the thick heavy solutiondescribed, that is, in the form of the base or stock material. Theaddition of the urea, which readily goes into solution, is particularlyadvantageous where the composition is to be used as a coating material,for it increases the flexibility thereof to a marked degree and rendersa coating produced by the use thereof, upon drying, much less liable tocracking and chippin or flaking. It is'also advantageous to a d to theheavy thick base or stock described above, a small amount of any of thegroup of aldehydes consisting of aldol, acetic aldehyde and paraldeh de,regardless of whether such base or stoc is to be used for a coating,filling,impregnating or a molding material, for any of these aldehydeswhen embodied in my improved composition not only materially increasesthe moisutre repellent or waterproofing ualities thereof, but also actsto increase t e solubilitv of both the leather gum and the shellac inthe solvent and therefore to prevent said materials from being throwndownin the solvent. Either the urea or one of the group of the aldehydesmentioned may alone be added to the composition with good results, but Iperfer to add both the urea and one of such aldehydes.

In forming a moldin material from my improved composition, t e properamount of a suitable filling material such, for example,

as wood flour, rotten stone, powdered chalk,

' base or stock composition may V8.1? r

ters Patent, is as follows:

great- 1y. I have found that anywhere om 25 parts to 700 parts by weightof the filling material may becombine with 100 arts by weight of thebase or stock compos1 tion. The proper proportion of filling material toemploy is dependent on the rigidity and strength required of the moldedarticles to be formed from the powder; and in this connection it may bestated generally, that the smaller the amount of filling material usedin forming the molding powder, the stronger will b'e'the articles moldedfrom the powder.

In addition to being very economical to produce, my improved compositionhas many other advantages. When embodied in forms suitable for use ascoating materials in the nature of liquid shellac, varnish, lac uer andoil paint, this composition is not on y capable of covering'more surfacethan the materials just mentioned, but also is very uick drying-in factit dries as quickly i not more quickly than ordinary liquid shellac.Moreover, a coating produced by its use is hard, tough, durable andglossy.' In case, however, a dull coating is desired, this can readilybe provided for by mixing with the composition the proper amount of asuitable flattener such as aluminum oleate, aluminum palmitate, aluminumstearate, or any of a number of resinates. Because of the qualitiesmentioned, and alsp because it is moisture repellant and has good heatresistant qualities, the composition as a coating material is admirablyadapted for outside use. My composition is also especially well adaptedfor molding purposes, as articles formed from the molding powderdescribed, in addition to being tough, strong and water repellent, haveextraordinary fire-resistant and electrical insulating properties.

It is to be understood that the improved composition and also the methodof producing the same, as specifically described herein, are subject tomany variations and modifications without departing from the spirit ofmy invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Let- 1. A composition of the character described, comprisingan. alkaline solution having Pyranton mixed therewith, said solutionhaving leather constituents and shellac dissolved therein.

g 2. A composition of the character de- "scribed, comprising a'solutionhaving shellac and only the protein constituents of leather dissolvedtherein,

., .3. A composition. of the character decontaining Pyra'nton, said"liquid- 'having' leather gum and. shellac dissolved therein.

4:. A composition of the character described, comprising a solution ofammonium hydroxide having Pyranton mixed therewith, said solution havingleather gum and shellac dissolved therein.

5. A composition of the character described, comprising a solutionhaving leather gum and shellac dissolved therein, and containing urea.

6. A composition of the character described, comprising an alkalinesolution having one of the group of aldehydes consisting of aldol,acetic aldehyde and paraldehyde mixed therewith and having shellac andonly the protein constituents of leather dissolved therein.

7. A composition of the character described, comprising an alkalinesolution having one of the group of aldehydes consisting of aldol,acetic aldehyde and paraldehyde mixed therewith and having leather gum,shellac and urea dissolved therein.

8. A composition of the character described comprising an intimatemixture of materials including shellac, one of the groups of aldehydesconsisting of aldol, acetic aldehyde and paraldehyde, and only theprotein constituents of leather.

9. A composition of the character described comprising an intimatemixture of materials including leather gum, shellac, one of the group ofaldehydes consisting of aldol, acetic aldehyde and paraldehyde, andurea.

10. The method which consists in dissolving protein constituents ofleather in a solution containing Pyranton, dissolving shellac in analkaline solution, and then mixing together the two solutions.

11. The method which consists in dissolving protein constituents ofleather in a solution containing Pyranton while subjecting such solutionto heat, dissolving shellac in an alkaline solution while maintainingthe latter in heated condition, and then mixing together the twosolution 12. The method which consists in dissolving proteinconstituents of leather in-alcohol having- Pyranton mixed therewith,dissolving shellac in an alkaline water solution, and then mixingtogether the two solutions.

13. The method which consists in thoroughly commingling shellac and onlythe protein constituents of leather in an alkaline solution and dryingand pulverizingthe resulting product.

14. The method which consists in commingling protein constituents ofleather and shellac in solution, and adding urea to the solution. 7

15. The method which consists in commingling shellac and only theprotein constituents of leather'in solution and mixing with the solutionan aldehvde of the group consisting of aldol", acetic aldehyde andparaldehyde.

16.31he. method which consists in commingling protein constituents ofleather and shellac in solution and mixing with the solution urea and analdehyde of the group con- (siisltlin of aldol, acetic aldehyde andparale y e.

This specification signed this 1st day of July 1932.

PETER C. CHRISTENSEN.

